Looking Forward, Looking Back

God is faithful. Pastor Adam Butler.

Socks and Underwear - Part 4 - Future

It's not too late for your life to change for the better.

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Discussion Questions:

What character attributes do you most want your life to be remembered for?

What advice might you give to someone who felt it was “too late” for them to surrender their life to Christ?

Christmas Family Devotional Ideas:

• Set up a Nativity scene in your home:
• Plan a project of good will. Serve a meal at the Lighthouse. Volunteer at Serve Wenatchee. Organize our church food bank and prep boxes for distribution.
• Take a group Christmas caroling in a nursing home.
• Give a gift of service to each member of your family:
• Set aside a time of family devotions on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning: Read Luke 1:26-38 and Luke 2:1-20 before unwrapping gifts.
• Write a Christmas email to a missionary. They are often a long way from home.

Socks and Underwear - Part 3 - Payback

God understands.

John 1:1-5,9-14(NIV)

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God ¹³ - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Discussion Questions:

In the play, William wrestles with feelings of hatred and revenge over what his business partner did to him. How can knowing God's forgiveness help us to forgive others?

In the play, Grandfather Tom laments not leaving more of a spiritual legacy for his family. What's an example you've seen of someone leaving a positive spiritual legacy?

John 1 teaches us that in Jesus, God became a human. How does knowing this about God affect how you relate to God?

Socks and Underwear - Part 2 - Priorities

Our choices reveal our priorities.

Exodus 20:1-3 (NIV)

¹ And God spoke all these words: ² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. ³ “You shall have no other gods before me.

Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Discussion Questions:

What do you think are the most common “idols” today? What do each of them “promise” in return for our allegiance? (Make a list.)

In the story, what was Emily's idol? What sacrifices did she make out of her allegiance to it? What did she hope for in return? How did this mess up her life?

What would you say are the “main priorities” in your life? What order would you list them? Which priorities most easily slip “out of place?”

Socks and Underwear - Part 1 - Stress

Our stresses reveal our false gods.

Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11 (NIV)

¹ God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
³ though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

¹⁰ He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

   I will be exalted among the nations,

   I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹ The Lord Almighty is with us;

   the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Discussion Questions:

What are the habits, items or values that people often turn to for a sense of comfort, safety or well-being when they are stressed or overwhelmed? (make a list.)

How have you found faith in God to be a source of “refuge and strength?”

What habits, items or values other than God do you find yourself tempted to turn to in times of stress?

What's the difference between the healthy use of a habit, item or value and an unhealthy dependence on that habit, item or value?

What advice might you give to someone who was struggling with stress? How might you offer stress advice to someone who was not yet a Christian?